Bangkok Bank, Kasikornbank and Siam Commercial were rated
“buy” in new coverage at BNP Paribas, which said Thailand’s
banks appear to be “moving towards a sustainable growth era
with solid assets and earnings quality.”

Khon Kaen Sugar Industry Pcl (KSL TB), the nation’s only
publicly traded sugar miller, gained 8.8 percent to 13.6 baht,
the steepest advance since March 30. Raw sugar for March
delivery climbed 5.7 percent on Dec. 31 to settle at 32.12 cents
a pound on ICE Futures U.S. in New York. The contract reached
34.77 cents on Dec. 29, the highest since November 1980.